Oil Rig Injury Attorney

Crude oil is in demand in the United States as we aim to pull away from
foreign oil dependency and look to sustain our oil industry. In recent
years, offshore drilling has become more favorable than ever before. Companies
have erected oil rig platforms throughout the Gulf of Mexico to tap into
the massive reserves of oil under the ocean and right off our coasts;
the drilling and refining of crude oil happen right out at sea.

Oil companies provide thousands of workers with jobs, but these giant rigs
can be an incredibly hazardous place to work. Working on a platform is
known as one of the most dangerous jobs in America for good reason.

Drilling utilizes astounding pressure to retrieve oil. Any blockage or
backflow in the system can result in an intense explosion, igniting the
naturally-occurring hydrocarbons in the process. These are known as “blowouts.”
Blowouts are usually sudden and can rupture pipelines, causing large amounts
of pressurized oil and gas to spew into the surrounding area. They often
result in
catastrophic explosions and
fires.

Injured by an Oil Rig Explosion? Arnold & Itkin LLP Can Help!

The seamen who devote their careers to drilling and maintenance projects
on offshore oil platforms are vulnerable to the dangers of such projects.
Not only do oil rig workers face the rigorous task of operating heavy
machinery, but they face the possibility of suffering a life-altering
injury as well should they be in the path of an explosion, a fire, or
an eruption of hazardous fumes. Oil rig explosion injuries range from
severe burns to blunt trauma, to crush injuries and dismemberment. In
many cases, workers cannot entirely recover due to the catastrophic nature
of the injuries. For this reason, it has become increasingly important
for all workers to secure a safe environment and ensure that all safety
regulations are being followed. Failing to do so could have devastating
consequences, which is, unfortunately, evident when looking at
oil rig explosions that have occurred throughout history. For this reason, the injured should not hesitate to pursue just compensation.

Common Types of Oil Rig Injuries

Burn Injuries

One of the most common ways that workers may experience significant harm
at the hands of an
oil rig accident comes in the form of
burn injuries. Whether there is a defective piece of equipment, eroded electrical materials,
or a simple mistake, there is a great potential for extreme
fires or
explosions. Any form of a chemical spill or exposed power lines can quickly escalate
into creating a dangerous fire. Additionally, external factors such as
treacherous water or stormy weather can influence the possibility of problems
aboard the rig. Unfortunately, because oil rig workers are out at sea,
there is little time for them to escape from these types of imminent dangers,
leaving many people helpless in the event of an accident.

Injury in the form of a burn can be life-altering to an individual. While
first- and second-degree burns are more manageable and easily treated,
third- and fourth-degree burns can continue to affect a person throughout
their lifetime. Charring the skin and extending its damage down below
the deeper layers of the dermis, these types of burns can be so harmful
that amputations may sometimes be required.

These burns can lead to impaired mobility or total loss of the limb. In
the most severe circumstances, charring burns can sear a victim’s
tissue all the way down to the bone. Scarring, contractures, local infections,
amputation, and significant functional impairment can all result. There
is also a stronger chance of skin cancer, gangrene, or death from these
wounds. Individuals that must suffer prolonged damage, requiring weeks
or months of healing time and the possibility of physical therapy can
be out of work and without income.

Brain Injuries

Workers can suffer many injuries from an oil rig explosion, but one of
the most catastrophic is that of brain damage. The brain is the primary
organ that helps direct the rest of the body in its everyday functions.
Even the smallest
brain injury can have a devastating impact on your future. Brain injuries can occur
for many reasons. Falling debris from the damaged structure may land on
a worker, a worker may be forced down because of the pressure, or a worker
may experience oxygen deprivation because of smoke inhalation during the
resulting fire.

It does not matter if you sustained a closed or open head injury, the side
effects of a traumatic brain injury can severely impact your everyday
functionality. Some classic indicators of a brain injury may include dizziness,
swelling, loss of consciousness, concussion, seizures, insomnia, or even
just a slight change in behavior. Unfortunately, when it comes to brain
injuries, there are ways to stabilize the patient, but brain damage is
often irreversible and may cause physical and financial hardship for the
rest of your life.

Spinal Injuries

Due to the unique hazards in a seamen's line of work, there are many dangers
to oil rig workers that result in spinal trauma. The force at which an
explosion leaves a well or pipe can be enough to knock someone off their
feet; however, the resulting fall may permanently damage a worker's spine.
Spinal cord injuries are considered medical emergencies and need to be dealt with promptly
to ensure that
paralysis does not occur and that no further damage is done to the spinal column,
nerves, or muscles around the vertebrae. When an accident results in a
spinal cord injury, the brain may have a difficult time sending signals
out to the rest of the body. This could have severe consequences and even
affect the victim's ability to move and control other bodily motor functions.
In severe cases, the victim could become paralyzed or even quadriplegic.
Unfortunately, the spine does not quickly repair itself because it is
so delicate. Thus, the damage may be irreversible. This means that a spine
injury victim could experience a permanent loss of wages while having
to pay for ongoing medical bills for constant care. This financial hardship
is not yours to bear.

Crush Injuries

Crush injuries have proven to be some of the most life-altering of all injuries. According
to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, "a crush injury occurs
when a body part is subjected to a high degree of force or pressure."
Most commonly, this happens when a falling object strikes a person or
when they are wedged between two heavy objects. When working on an oil
rig, there are a variety of different ways in which an injury of this
nature could be sustained. For example, when the
Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded, 240 ft. of seawater, mud, and methane gas erupted from
the ocean. Workers aboard the vessel were forced to take cover from the
various parts of the rig that had broken free.

Dismemberment

One of the most gruesome injuries that can occur is dismemberment. Dismemberment
occurs when a person's limb is torn off or cut from their body—whether
by the force of a much more massive object or by being pulled in two opposing
directions. In the event of an explosion, arms and legs can become trapped
in equipment and be torn from the body. Unlike surgical amputation, these
accidents often result in an untimely death.

If I Was Injured On An Oil Rig, What Are My Legal Options?

If your injury occurred while you were working on an offshore oil rig,
you may be entitled to relief through:

The Jones ActThis would require a showing that your employer was negligent, much like a
personal injury lawsuit. It must also be proven that you as the employee carried the title of "seaman" at the time of your injury. You are considered a seaman if at least
30% of your work hours were spent on an offshore vessel. The Jones Act
also only covers United States citizens on American-owned vessels.

Longshore & Harbor Workers' Compensation ActYou do not need to show fault in this type of claim, which has procedures
and benefits similar to the workers' compensation system that covers industrial
injuries that occur on land. This act states that if you are an offshore
worker or work in an "adjacent occupation" even if you do not
spend 30% or more of your time on an offshore vessel, you are liable to
compensation under this act.

Legal Representation for Oil Rig Explosion Injury Victims

After suffering from an injury of any degree, rig workers can and should
take legal action. To forego this right would meaning foregoing your chance
for compensation, which could be used for the costs of recovery. In our
experience, workers know that their injuries are not purely accidental—they
know that oil rig explosions are the result of negligence and valuing
profit over safety. Civil law is designed to give you a chance to receive
justice. Justice is more than symbolic—it has allowed our clients
to move forward with confidence, equipped with financial security.

The medical expenses that result from staying at the hospital would be
costly. Add in the costs of rehabilitation and lost wages and the seamen
could be facing drastically unaffordable costs—even with the best
insurance. In many cases, workers’ compensation is unable to cover
the costs of treatment and recovery. Oil rig explosion victims in this
situation can pursue other compensation in a personal injury lawsuit.
With the help of an experienced injury attorney, our clients have taken
action against those responsible for their pain and suffering.

Getting the Compensation You Deserve: Call (888) 493-1629

Offshore oil companies must provide their employees with the necessary
safety precautions to prevent a major disaster at sea; however, some accidents
cannot be avoided. Oil explosions can have devastating effects on coastal
communities, fishing, and the economy, but no effect can be as heartbreaking
and painful to get through as a severe injury received by a rig worker
during the initial explosion.

If you or a loved one has been tragically injured or wrongfully killed
in an oil rig explosion, you deserve compensation. At Arnold & Itkin,
we have experience in representing workers who were injured in explosions on rigs.
All told, we have won billions of dollars for our clients.

For this reason, we urge you to take the time to speak with a knowledgeable
attorney at our firm about the cause of your injuries and begin working
toward obtaining the level of compensation that you deserve. By filling
out and submitting a free case evaluation form today, you will be one
step closer to the justice you deserve.
If you were injured in any explosion,
contact Arnold & Itkin. With our experience and record for results, you can fight for the financial
compensation that you deserve. Do not hesitate to contact our firm today.

Verdicts & Settlements

Our Law Firm's Victories

$171
Million

Arnold & Itkin worked over the course of several years to represent clients in a case that many other law firms turned down. In the end, we were able to obtain a record-setting confidential settlement of $171 million.

$117
Million

Arnold & Itkin represented a pregnant woman who experienced stomach pain and called Acadian Ambulance. The driver of the ambulance drove the ambulance into the back of a sugar cane truck causing the plaintiff's spine to be severed at T4 and for her to sustain serious brain injuries. We succeeded in obtaining a $117 million verdict for the mother, as well as her two daughters.

$110
Million

Arnold & Itkin obtained a record settlement for individuals harmed by defective, dangerous products. The result exemplifies our commitment to clients and justice for those seriously injured by the conduct of others.

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